Travelers arriving at Pittsburgh International Airport Wednesday without a Real ID or another acceptable form of identification should prepare for possible additional screening.
Starting Wednesday, federal Real ID requirement goes into effect and will be enforced by TSA agents at airports across the country. Anyone 18 years of age or older will need a Real ID or another acceptable form of identification like a passport or global entry card to fly domestically or visit certain federal and military facilities.
Still, it sounds like travelers without Real ID won’t be turned away. People who haven’t obtained a Real ID received assurances from the head of Homeland Security that they will be able to fly after additional identity checks.
Lisa Farbstein, a TSA spokeswoman, said the airport is looking to enforce Real ID while minimizing impact to its overall operations.
“I think that people who already have an ID … are going to see no difference,” she said.
Travelers found to be noncompliant could receive additional screening, Farbstein said, but it should not prevent anyone from getting on their designated airplane.
“Those people … may possibly be directed to a separate area to be screened,” she said. “What that looks like I can’t get into because that’s considered security sensitive, but it’s nothing that’s going to increase security wait times, affect security.”
The separate area being used for additional screening will depend on each airport’s specific layout and the availability of other security lanes, Farbstein said.
“We’ve been preparing ahead of time, and we’re ready,” she said, and there will be “all hands on deck tomorrow.”
The Real ID was born out of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, also known as the 9/11 Commission, resulting in the Real ID Act being passed in 2005.
About 81% of passengers nationwide already use Real ID or another acceptable form of ID, according to Farbstein, which she said is “good news.”
”We don’t really expect there to be any major inconveniences or wait times,” she said.
A full checklist of what’s needed to get a Real ID is provided online by PennDOT.
Also this month, the Pittsburgh International Airport made changes to its security checkpoints.
Travelers who are enrolled in TSA PreCheck and are ticketed to fly out of Pittsburgh should proceed directly to the main security checkpoint as of Monday, along with CLEAR, first class and wheelchair accessible passengers.
The alternate security checkpoint will mainly be open to screen non-TSA PreCheck travelers, the airport said. However, non-TSA PreCheck can still use the main checkpoint when it’s not between the peak hours of the morning from 4-7 a.m., Farbstein said.
Previously, TSA PreCheck passengers were going to the alternate checkpoint, which is outside across a brief roadway that is covered, she said.
Also passenger screening checkpoints are now closed from 10:30 p.m. until 2:30 a.m. daily — and passengers are not be able to access the concourse or gate area of the airport during that time.